Boat bumper



Oct. 12, 1943. F. RANDO BOAT BUMPER Filed Aug. :50, 1940 l N VENT 0R. fkA/vK FAA/00.

Patented Oct. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOAT BUMPER Frank Rando, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August 30, 1940, Serial No. 354,802

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cushioning devices as used on the forward ends of tug boats and like water craft to avoid abrasion when coming in contact with other vessels, wharves and the like, commonly called bumpers.

Such bumpers are secured to the bow of the boat and extend along the sides a short distance to act as fenders receptive of the strain and thrust of collision; eventually abrasion, frictional wear and frequent wetting of the bumper causes disintegration, rendering replacement necessary.

As most wear occurs on the crown or extreme front portion of the bumper, it is an object of the invention to provide a replaceable crown which may be secured on the forward portion of the bumper.

A further feature is in the provision of a bumper consisting of a sheath of woven cordage, tapering from the ends towards the center, filled with rope scraps or other cushioning material and presenting a central raised portion to which is attached a crown in a manner to permit ready and easy removal when in an injured condition, and another substituted therefor.

These valuable objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a boat to which is attached an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the bumper, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l5 designates in general a vessel having secured on its bow a bumper, generally indicated at IS, the same being substantially V shaped in plan, thicker at its central crotch portion I1 and gradually attenuated, as at l8, towards its rear-reaching ends l9 which straddle the forward sides of the boat.

Such bumpers are usually made of strong cordage, such as small ropes, interwoven firmly to present a sheath of substantially circular cross section, filled with a cushioning substance, such as frayed rope ends and like flexible material 20.

Loops 2| extend from the extremities of the bumper, by which attachment is made to the boat in any convenient manner, and other means of fastening, as at 22, may be additionally employed.

The loops may be formed at the ends of ropes 23 embedded in the cushioning material, or may extend entirely through the length of the bumper, as preferred. a

This invention consists essentially in the provision of a generally spherically surfaced bossshaped shell-like crown 25, also made from rope, wound helically to present a strong spherical surface held on the foremost part of the bump-' or by any preferred means, and adapted to receive the thrust or impact of-the boat when striking any object, as another boat, dock or like rigid object.

When the crown 25 has become worn or frayed, it is readily removed and another substituted, thus increasing the useful life of the bumper far beyond ordinary.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of its construction and application, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A bumper for boats comprising a substantially V-shaped cushion-like member adapted to be mounted on the bow of a boat with the arms of the V straddling the sides of the bow and provided with means for removably securing the.

bumper in said position to the boat, a spherically surfaced boss-shaped shell-like crown, and means for removably securing said crown to said bumper at the forwardmost portion of said bumper with the concave surface of said crown lying against the surface of said forwardmost portion of the bumper.

' FRANK RANDO. 

